The New York Times cites a few different studies that looked into water consumption and weight or calorie control. In one study, a group of 55-and-older people, placed on restricted calorie diets as a weight loss intervention, fared notably better at losing weight than a group that didn't drink two cups of water before meals. Two other studies held that finding generally true, but often with the caveat that preemptive water seemed more effective among older test subjects.

It might seem like most restaurant experiences would put the lie to the water-before-food hunger reduction—but, then again, this editor's too young to fall in the middle of the most improved subjects. File this one, then, under a good idea that can't really hurt.